The Falklands War was fought in the spring of 1982 after Argentinian forces invaded and occupied this British territory. The Battle of Goose Green took place on May 28-29th and led to British control of a strategic isthmus in the move to retake Eastern Falkland.
2. World War II (Europe)
Answer: Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was fought in the air above England and the English Channel from June 1940 to June 1941. The failure of the Luftwaffe's bombing campaign to demoralise British resistance and thus to lead to a forced peace led Hitler to postpone Operation Sea Lion (the actual invasion of Britain) and Churchill to proclaim about the British Empire and the Commonwealth that "this was their finest hour".
3. Korean War
Answer: Heartbreak Ridge
The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge was fought in the autumn of 1951 in the hills of North Korea just north of the 38th parallel. Casualties were high on both sides and the results inconclusive, leading the UN and American command to avoid such major engagements for the rest of the war.
4. World War I (Western Front)
Answer: Jutland
The naval Battle of Jutland was fought on May 31 and June 1, 1916 off the coast of Denmark. It was occasioned by the German attempt to break out of the blockade imposed by the British fleet and allow the German mercantile fleet access to the Atlantic.
It was the only major combat between battleships during the Great War, and ending in a draw with heavy losses on both sides, but as the German fleet was unable to realise its objective, it is regarded as a qualified victory for the British.
5. Boer War
Answer: Ladysmith
The Second Boer War took place in South Africa from 1899 to 1902 between the breakaway Boer regions of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal and the forces of the United Kingdom and her allies from the Empire and the Dominions. The town of Ladysmith in Natal was besieged by the Boers from November 1899 to the end of February 1900, when British relief forces were able to re-enter the town and bring much-needed supplies to the inhabitants. Among those in the relief party was one Winston Churchill.
6. World War II (Pacific)
Answer: Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4th-8th 1942) was fought between the naval forces of the USA and Australia on one side and the Japanese Imperial navy on the other. It was the first major clash in the war involving aircraft carriers and although the Japanese sank more ships, their advance in the Pacific was halted and led to the subsequent American offensive at Guadalcanal.
7. Spanish Civil War
Answer: Merida
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was fought between the nationalist forces led by General Franco (aided by advisors from Germany and Italy) and the Republicans loyalists. The Battle of Merida took place in August 1936 and the two victories by Franco's Spanish Army of Africa enabled the Nationalists to consolidate their hold on west central Spain.
8. World War I (Middle Eastern Front)
Answer: Gallipoli
Gallipoli was a peninsula of modern-day Turkey on the European side of the strait of the Dardanelles and the scene of an invasion into the Ottoman Empire by British and French forces. It was one of the major victories in the war by the Ottoman Empire as the invaders were repulsed with heavy losses. Gallipoli became extremely important in the culture of Australia and New Zealand as this was their first major expedition overseas and encouraged a real sense of national identity.
9. Vietnam War
Answer: Hamburger Hill
In May 1969 American and South Vietnamese forces launched an offensive to dislodge North Vietnamese forces from Hill 937 near the border with Laos. The Americans and South Vietnamese forces were ultimately successful but the heavy casualties (hence the name "Hamburger Hill") and the abandonment of the hill soon after did much to turn American home sentiment against the war.
10. Russo-Japanese War
Answer: Tsushima Strait
The Battle of Tsushima Strait was fought in late May 1905 during the war between Russia and Japan when Japan was spreading her influence into mainland Asia. Tsushima Strait lies between Korean and Japan and was the direct route for the Russian navy to relieve Japanese pressure on Vladivostok.
The Russian navy, which had had to sail all the way from Europe either around Africa or through the Suez Canal, was utterly defeated in this battle by the Japanese navy.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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